And to double up on the irony, FSJ is also a member of the MSM — specifically, he’s an editor at Forbes:

The acerbic postings of “Fake Steve,” as he is known, have attracted a plugged-in readership — both the real Mr. Jobs and Bill Gates have acknowledged reading the blog (fakesteve.blogspot.com). At the same time, Fake Steve has evaded the best efforts of Silicon Valley’s gossips to discover his real identity.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, Daniel Lyons, a senior editor at Forbes magazine who lives near Boston, has been quietly enjoying the attention.

“I’m stunned that it’s taken this long,” said Mr. Lyons, 46, when a reporter interrupted his vacation in Maine on Sunday to ask him about Fake Steve. “I have not been that good at keeping it a secret. I’ve been sort of waiting for this call for months.”

As I wrote, knowing who’s writing FSJ has the real potential of killing the fun. It also may put a damper on the blogger’s penchant for in-your-face honesty. Lyons-as-Jobs was able to write what he really thought, telling truths in a manner that would make a named writer uncomfortable. The FSJ blog will be moving to Forbes.com, but can it be as biting as before? For example, can Lyons still get away with calling the CEO of Google “Squirrel Boy”?

This passage from the NYT’s story doesn’t bode well for future truthiness:

Asked whether he was worried that he would be called to account for some of Fake Steve’s stinging, personal posts, Mr. Lyons chuckled and said, “Yes.”

In what may be an attempt to prove he’s still got relevance, Lyons-as-Fake-Steve takes to task Brad Stone, the reporter who spoiled the party:

Well it had to happen. Honestly I can’t believe it’s taken this long. But as you may have heard, I’ve been busted by a newspaper reporter. My cover has been blown. Guy named Brad Stone, who works for the New York Times. Have you heard of him? Well, tip of the hat to you, Brad Stone. You did the sleuthing. You put the pieces of the puzzle together. You went through my trash, hacked into my computer, and put listening devices in my home. Now you’ve ruined the mystery of Fake Steve, robbing thousands of people around the world of their sense of childlike wonder. Hope you feel good about yourself . . .

[deletia]

Meanwhile if anyone can think of a cool way to use the name “Brad Stone” (all or part) as a verb, let me know.

Maybe this:

brad, v.i.:1. To bust a fellow filthy hack without mercy and spoil the fun for everyone, in a quest for personal aggrandizement.2. To urinate in a pool.

Yeah. Thanks for nothing, Brad.

Lyons has proven himself a masterful writer, and perhaps he’ll be able to overcome and sustain. But the first time a Forbes editor comes to him and wants things toned down a bit and he capitulates, the party’s over.